Merry-go-round.



A. A. WALRATH.

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1908 929,523. Patentd July 27, 1909.

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MMB-WNWWMEQ IINETE TATES TENT OFFICE.

MERRY-GO-ROUND.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AL'roN A. WALRATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Plain, in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Merry-Go Rounds, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to an improved merry-go-round, and I declare the following is a full, clear, concise and exact description thereof, sufiicient to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout.

The invention is illustrated in one form in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown a fixed base construction, including a mast therewith, and a movable portion revolubly mounted on the fixed base and means therewith for imparting motion to such parts.

Particular features of the invention are found in the means for causing this motion, which, with the other parts of the device, form a simple, inexpensive and durable construction.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the device, certain parts being cut out. Fig. 2 is a side view, certain of the pro jecting parts being cut out. 3 is a detail in cross-section, and Fig. 4 is a view of the actuating mechanism.

Referring to the figures in detail, 1 is a base and 2 a mast fixed upright, 3 being a plate supported 011 base 1 by bars 4. On plate 3 is a rack 5, shown in Fig. 3 as let into plate 3, adapted to receive the bearing-balls 6. A counterpart rack 7 is shown as likewise let into plate 8, which with rack 7 revolves about the mast 2, supporting the other revolving parts. Fixedly mounted on the plate 8, and at a suitable distance from the center, are the arms 10, of which ten are shown, each of which has a seat 11 at the outer end. Fixed to the mast 2 is ratchetwheel 16 with teeth, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. On the revolving structure, for instance, at the inner end of each arm 10 is pivoted a lever 12 which carries a pawl 13, held by spring 14 (extending from the pawl to lever 12) in contact with wheel 16. On the arm 10 is pivoted lever 15, one end of which connects with the outer end of lever 12 by a slotted connection. At 18 is another lever Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. May 13, 1908.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Serial No. 432,567.

pivoted on the arm 10 and having slotted connection at one end with the adjacent end of lever 15, the other end of lever-18 extending into a handle for the rider to grasp.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the levers are shown in somewhat difierent positions, indicating the method of operation of the device. The rider swings the handle of lever 18 to and fro, reciprocating the other levers, which are proportioned to give ample leverage, the pawl engaging the wheel and providing a fulcrum on which to revolve the arms, the fulcrum changing with each reciprocation to a new position on the ratchet when theoperation is repeated. It is understood that there is such a system of lovers on each arm, whence it will be seen that the power applied at different points rapidly rotates the arms, the natural inequality of movement of the operators supplying a practically constant force to rotate the machine.

At the top of the mast is a loosely mounted plate or ring 20 from which guys 21 extend to clips 22 mounted on the arms for supporting the same.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V

1. A device of the character described havin a fixed base, revolving members mounted thereon, ball-bearing mounting of the latter on the former, the revolving members comprising arms, lever members mounted thereon, a ratchet-wheel mounted on the base and a pawl mounted at one end of one of the lever members and connected with the wheel, the end of the pawl carrying lever mem bers adjacent the ratchet wheel being pivotally mounted on the arm eccentric to the center of the ratchet wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with rotating members mounted on a fixed structure, of means for rotating the former relatively to the latter, the same comprising a series of bars connected to form a compound lever, the bars having a sliding connection at their adjacent ends, the outer end of the outer bar of said lever consisting of a handle by the swinging of which to operate the lever, and the inner end being pivotally mounted on the rotating members eccentric to the center of rotation thereof, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, a fived mast, a plate revolubly mounted thereto, arms fixed at one end to the said plate and provided with a seat at the other end, a ratchet-wheel fixed to the mast above the arm, a pawl-carrying lever mounted at the inner end to swing on a point outside the center of the ratchet-wheel, a hand lever at the outer end and an intermediate lever pivoted to the arm and to the other levers to rotate the arms by the reciprocation of the said levers, substantially as described.

I 4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a fixed structure and revolving members thereon, of a compound lever with means engaging the fixed structure whereby to revolve the revolving members, the said lever consisting of a plurality of parts with slotted connection therebe tween and mounted at one end on the revolving structure at one side of the center whereby to exert the force of the leverage to turn the revolving members relative to the fixed structure, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the character described, a fixed mast, a plate revolubly mounted thereon, arms fixed at one end to the said plate and provided with a seat at the other end, a ratchet-wheel fixed to the mast, a

pawl-carrying lever near the inner end of the arm at a point eccentric to the center of the revoluble plate, a hand-lever at the outer end and an intermediate lever pivoted to the arm and to the other levers whereby upon reci rocation of the said levers power is app ied to the armsat a point adjacent the center of their revolution, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the character described, a fixed central structure with a ratchet-wheel thereon, a revoluble structure mounted on the fixed structure andcomprising seatcarrying arms, a series of lever members pivotally mounted on the arms, the outer end of the series being a handle to operate the levers and the inner end being mounted on the arm eccentric to the axis of the mast, a

7. A device of the character described comprising rotatable arms, a series of levers mounted thereon extending substantially the length of each arm, the inner member of said levers being pivoted on the arm adjacent to the axis of the rotation of the arm but eccentric thereto, and means between said pivotal bearing of said lever member and the outer end of said lever member whereby to hold the lever against back movement and whereby power, when applied to the series of levers at the outer end, is transmitted to and applied at a point on the arm adjacent to but eccentric of its pivotal mounting whereby to swing the outer end of the arm by action of the levers carried thereby, substantially as described.

8. A device of the character described comprising rotatable arms, a series of levers mounted on each of said arms, one end of the series being pivoted on the arm eccentric to the axis on which the arms rotate, and means between said pivotal point and the outer end of the arm to provide a movable fulcrum for the said lever member whereby power applied to the outer end of the lever members is applied to the arm adjacent to but eccentric of the pivotal mounting of the arm whereby to swing the outer end of the arm, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALTON A. KVALRATH. ii itnesses E. T. DE Groner, HENRY M. LOVE. 

